2022 Kickoff Checklist

Santa may be done with his list, but now it is time for all of us coming back to the office from the holidays to take care of ours. We have our checks and reminders throughout the year to update our software, our passwords and even some of our processes. When things break we send them in for maintenance, or we simply replace them. But, what about the things that will set us up for success this year, the things that often get pushed to the back-burner because they are not a 'priority' or because more pressing tasks come up?

The start of the year is the perfect time to review those non-priority items on your checklist to ensure you are setup for success throughout the new year. Below is a quick checklist of some common laboratory new year kickoff tasks that will get you back in the swing of things after the holidays. 

1. Review and Re-sync with Team 

The start of the year is also an ideal time to routinely review testing methods with all technicians who operate a piece of equipment. Comparing the standards that everyone has run to see if there are any differences will help to determine how accurately your instruments are performing. This is a great time to review your standard operating procedures, to discuss any newly implemented procedures, and to get everyone aligned for the year to come on various projects, goals, and priorities. 

2. Stock up on Consumables

The start of the year is the perfect time to stock up on your consumables for the year! Regardless of what instruments you use, it is important to have plenty of all the consumables you use in stock to ensure no one is ever left waiting on a shipment to complete their work. This includes all your cleaning supplies, pipettes, glass syringes, calibration fluid or calibration oils, and any other consumables your team needs.

**Need to stock up on your VROC viscometer consumables?

3. Routine Maintenance for Equipment 

Running routine service maintenance at the end or beginning of the year helps to ensure necessary maintenance is not overlooked. We recommend recalibration of your VROC chips and viscometer once a year. If you did not get around to recalibrations for your laboratory equipment before closing out 2021 now is the ideal time to prioritize this to ensure your measurements are accurate and that all your equipment is functioning optimally (not to mention extending the longevity of your equipment).

**Did you know your viscometer unit can be calibrated on site or at our service location? VROC® chips can be sent to our service location for extensive calibration procedures.

4. Run Through Cleaning Protocols 

Before diving into all your tests, checks and experiments for the year, take time to review your cleaning protocols. Ensure you are cleaning with a solution that is compatible with your sample and review the list of what cleaning solvents should be used for the various samples you work with. 

5. Secure Your Work

The start of the new year is a great time to reset your passwords and check all your systems for necessary updates. There is nothing more frustrating than losing work because you had to run an update. Take time now to check that all your systems are up to date and make sure if a software update ran over the holidays that all your equipment has also been updated to align. The short amount of time you spend checking your updates will save you a lot of headache and hassle down the road if you do find any discrepancies. 

This checklist is short and sweet, but sure to be effective in helping you get off on the right foot in the new year! Wishing you a strong start and success throughout 2022 and beyond! 

Need assistance with anything on your checklist? Or simply looking to automate or optimize your research or quality control this year? RheoSense is here to help! Contact us today to speak with one of our rheology experts about how we can help elevate your work and help you exceed your goals in 2022!